NIGHTSHADE FAMILY

If you commonly suffer from heartburn after eating peppers or tomatoes, you may have a nightshade sensitivity. Nightshade vegetables are the beloved tomato, potatoes, all peppers except, black pepper, eggplant, tomatillos and cherries. Paprika is also consider to be a nightshade do to the fact that it is made with peppers. The same goes for tobassco sauce. To make sure your food does not contain nightshades, always read the label.

These fruits and veggies contain a toxin ,Solanine http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solanine, an alkaloid http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alkaloid, that has been known to produce vomiting, headache, diarrhea. Severe reactions like heart failure are rare and usually due to allergic reactions. People with sensitivity to this food family may experience discomfort after over indulgence.

Some researchers have suggested that nightshade vegetables can be involved in gastroesophageal reflux disease http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gastroesophageal_Reflux_Disease, arthritis http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthritis and acne http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acne.

To see if you have a nightshade family sensitivity eliminate these food for 2-3 weeks. You may begin reintroducing these foods one at a time and if your symptoms reappear, then you know to keep these foods from your diet permanently.

As always make sure you wash your produce thoroughly, and if there any yellow or green spots, sprouts or leaves make sure to remove them. Solanine tends to mellow dramatically with maturity. Also, baking, roasting, frying with miso or salt can help to neutralize unwanted toxins. Serving with Parsley and Seaweeds can have the same effect.

References

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=george&dbid=62

http://www.wisegeek.com/are-nightshade-vegetables-bad-for-you.htm

Healing with Whole Foods, Paul Pitchford.